Our ref: FOI-2378-2425
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 24 October 2024 asking for information about TfL's PSED considerations regarding taxi and private hire drivers.
Your request has been considered under the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our information access policy.
I can confirm that we do hold the information you require. You asked:
The Equality Act 2010 says public authorities must comply with the public sector equality duty. This is in addition to their duty not to discriminate against you.
The duty aims to make sure public authorities think about things like discrimination and the needs of people who are disadvantaged or suffer inequality, when they make decisions about how they provide their services and implement policies.
Can you please publish TfL's PSED considerations regarding taxi and private hire drivers who cancel accepted mobile phone app bookings and the public safety impact to lone females who have contracted the services of a PHV or Taxi yet are left stranded and vulnerable because the PHV driver or taxi driver had cancelled the hiring.
Also, if TfL has not undertaken its PSED duty can you publish information when TfL will carry out its PSED in this matter?
As a public body we are aware of our duties to comply with the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) as part of the Equality Act 2010. For details of our wider work on how we’re making travel in London more accessible, safe and inclusive please visit our website.
Transport for London is the licensing authority and regulator for taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) services in London.
TfL licenses PHV drivers, vehicles and operators. Legislation requires a London licensed PHV operator to accept a booking. Only the operator can cancel a booking with a passenger once the booking has been accepted. If a PHV driver can no longer fulfil a journey allocated to them, we would expect the operator to offer or re-allocate the journey to another driver. If another driver is unavailable, the cancellation notification sent to the passenger should clearly outline the next steps available to the customer.
TfL does not regulate third-party intermediary platforms or app companies in relation to taxi bookings.
The DfT-commissioned Task and Finish Group on taxi and PHV licensing included a Chair’s recommendations (Recommendation 6) for Government to provide legislation that would “require companies that act as intermediaries between passengers and taxi drivers to meet the same licensing requirements and obligations as PHV operators, as this may provide additional safety for passengers”. The Government was clear in its response (see page 10), that it was not minded to provide such legislation: “….. the Government is not convinced that there is a compelling case for the licensing of taxi intermediaries (such as taxi apps or radio circuits).”
Passenger safety is at the forefront of all of our actions and policy decisions as regulator, and we have introduced a raft of measures to protect and improve passenger safety.
These include, but are not limited to, our compliance and enforcement activities, and safer travel operation, involving police and TfL enforcement officers which aims to help people get home safely by taxi, private hire or public transport.
Our introduction and implementation of compulsory licensing standards, our recent Improving safety for taxi and PHV passengers consultation and the Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding (SERU) requirement for private hire drivers (and taxi drivers from 1 October 2025) which ensures licensees have an appropriate understanding of the safety, equality and regulatory requirements that apply to them.
If you are not satisfied with this response please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely,
Tahsin Prima
FOI Case Officer
General Counsel
Transport for London
